8 Best Folding Treadmills of 2024, Tested by Fitness Experts

The NordicTrack Commercial 1750 folding treadmill offers advanced digital features that might just get you excited about exercising from home. This portable treadmill comes equipped with a 14-inch rotating HD touchscreen display that pairs with your headphones via Bluetooth so you can join live, interactive workouts or studio sessions coached by iFIT trainers right from your machine. Though an iFIT membership will cost extra, a 30-day trial is included.

The 14-inch smart touchscreen isn't the largest we've seen, but it is substantial enough and provides a more immersive experience than working out with your phone or tablet. The screen itself is easy to use and tilts and pivots, so you can compliment your running workouts with strength training classes, yoga content and more to create a well-rounded fitness program. You'll find other small features like two water bottle holders, an AutoBreeze fan and an integrated tray to hold your smartphones, headphones and any other items you may need during your run.

Along with a lengthy 5-foot running belt, this treadmill is capable of quietly inclining to 12 percent or declining to -3 percent to mimic various running terrains and enhance your training session. In our tests, we found the NordicTrack’s motor to be efficient and able to withstand running speeds up to 12 mph. The treadmill is also quite easy to fold thanks to a built-in mechanism that helps you gently lower and fold the treadmill.

READ OUR FULL REVIEW: NordicTrack Commercial 1750 Review

For the best of both worlds in terms of affordability and performance, look no further than this popular choice from Xterra; it strikes the perfect balance between the two. With over 12,000 five-star reviews on Amazon, this foldable treadmill offers a nice-sized running belt that allows you to run at speeds up to 10 mph.

We like the substantial console that includes a book rack, accessory holders and an LCD display that tracks metrics like speed, incline, time, distance, calories and more. You can even track your pulse, thanks to the hand pulse sensors mounted on the side handlebars. Many reviewers note how sturdy and versatile this model is in their homes. "The smaller footprint allowed me to keep it on the main level of the house," one reviewer said.

Those looking for some extra guidance will appreciate that this model comes with 12 programmed workouts to choose from. One thing to note is that if you want to adjust the incline, you can only choose from three heights — and you have to raise the running deck manually. The frame itself folds upright and is relatively compact, given the design. Casual walkers and beginner runners will likely be pleased with this pick, while more advanced runners might prefer a machine with a wider running belt and more special features like an automatic incline, which can be found in the brand's TR260 model.

This pick from Sunny Health & Fitness — another affordable foldable treadmill — is a great machine for walking and jogging, particularly if you're tight on space. You'll find a console with a display for tracking time, speed, distance, calories, pulse and more. The set-up comes complete with dual water bottle holders for those longer runs, as well as a device holder and media port for your tablet or smartphone.

Take advantage of 16 preset workouts, three user-customized workouts and three countdown workouts on this machine. Plus, this model offers a substantial 15 levels of automatic incline. (A sister model is available with a manual incline if you're looking for even more savings, but our experts say that the automatic incline is certainly worth the extra cost.) Quick Speed buttons for 2, 4, 6 and 8 mph for speed and 3, 6 and 12 for incline make transitions smooth.

It folds upright and features a soft-drop hydraulic mechanism that the company says is designed to help the deck gently lower itself to the floor. "Easy to use and folds up pretty small," said one reviewer. Our analysts note that it doesn't have the largest running belt we've seen, but it should be suitable for most users. With its significant automatic incline, decent speed range and reasonable price-point, our pros say that this treadmill is a great pick for beginners since it has a little bit of everything at a fair price.

If saving space is your top priority, the Echelon Stride is a smart choice. This compact treadmill folds up to a height of just 10 inches to lay flat against the wall or slide easily under most beds. We like that it features a 4.6-foot running belt that will suit most runners and that it reaches speeds up to 12 mph — a higher max speed than most foldable treadmills. You'll also be able to take advantage of 12 incline levels.

Though the Stride lacks a built-in touchscreen, it’s equipped with a device holder so you can easily stream Echelon Premier workout classes (though you’ll have to pay extra for the Echelon Premier subscription after a 30-day free trial) or another one of your favorite running apps from your tablet. It also features an LED display where you can check stats like pulse, incline, speed and more while running. "I like the profile of it. It's a sturdy machine but slim enough to be portable," one tester said. "It's a good starter treadmill for someone like me, who has limited space and needs the versatility." Another tester appreciated the sleek design, which she said looked great in her home.

One thing to note is that the automatic folding system isn’t as seamless as it could be. It's still pretty heavy to fold and move around. But the ability to store this treadmill under your bed is a game-changer, especially in very small spaces and apartments, just make sure you have enough clearance under your bed frame for it to fit.

Built for powerful performance, the 7.4 AT Treadmill from Horizon Fitness has a supportive 22" wide running deck and easy-to-use dial controls for seamless speed and incline changes. On the right, roll the dial forward to increase speed and roll it back to decrease speed. On the left, roll it forward to go up a hill and roll it back to come back down. We found that this model provided seamless transitions in our tests, making it great for interval training.

Since the speed goes up to 12 mph and the incline goes up to 15%, both novice and competitive runners (and incline walkers) were able to take advantage of the machine and get a great workout. And it folds upright when not in use via a handy hydraulic folding mechanism.

Though it does away with a fancy screen, it includes a built-in device holder for your tablet or phone as well as a simple display for adjusting your speed, incline and more. We also like that you can connect your phone to the treadmill’s speakers via Bluetooth and listen to music or stream your favorite show while working out, no headphones needed. “I love the built-in area above the screen for placing your phone, iPad or book,” one tester said, adding that the machine felt sturdy and secure and wasn’t loud.

The Bowflex Treadmill 10 model delivers all of the bells and whistles, including an adjustable 10-inch HD touchscreen, decline and incline capabilities, a speed range up to 12 mph and Bluetooth connectivity options for smart devices and heart rate monitors.

Serious runners will appreciate the solid build of this machine as well as the longer and wider running belt (60" x 22") compared to other competitors. But all levels will likely enjoy the great class content and guidance JRNY has to offer (your membership is free for the first two months), as well as the access to entertainment options, like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Hulu. But the screen is on the smaller side, so if you're looking for something larger we also highly recommend the Bowflex Treadmill 22 model.

While this choice isn't as compact as others on this list, it does fold upright to save some space when not in use. You won't be able to slide it under a bed or discreetly store it away in a corner, but testers said that even though it takes up a lot of real estate it was worth it for the premium features. "I've never been more excited to run," a tester said. "This is a sturdy, state-of-the-art machine. I feel very grounded running at full speed. But really the best feature is that I can connect it to Netflix and other streaming video so I almost forget that I'm moving." If you're an avid runner looking for a foldable treadmill with smart capabilities, this choice is for you.

This foldable treadmill is an excellent pick for those who like to alternate between walking and running. The two-in-one design allows you to use the machine for walking up to 2.5 mph when the handrail is folded, and then running up to speeds of 7.5 mph when the handrail is raised.

Not only is this treadmill super easy to fit under a bed or couch (it only takes up 5 inches when folded), but it’s also a great choice for home offices if you want an under-desk treadmill to keep you active during work hours. In addition to featuring integrated Bluetooth speakers and multiple color designs, this treadmill comes with a remote so you can easily adjust your speed when the risers are lowered.

Keep in mind that there is no incline on this treadmill. It also has a smaller running belt than other models on our list. But at such a low price-point, it may be just what you need for a versatile under-desk treadmill that allows you to walk or run.

In need of something super compact for your studio apartment or small home gym space? If so, this pick from WalkingPad may appeal to you. Designed as a standing desk treadmill, this ultra-slim and compact treadmill folds in half and can be easily stored under your couch or bed when not in use.

Although WalkingPad offers other models that include a handrail and need to be stored upright, this P1 model keeps it very compact. The treadmill comes with a wireless remote control that allows you to accelerate and decelerate speed and monitor time, mileage, calories and more.

You can lightly jog on this model up to 3.5 mph, but our experts say the P1 is best for leisurely walking. It does not have any incline capabilities, but we appreciate that it provides an easy and compact solution for those wanting to walk indoors. One tester said that the P1 came in handy during the winter months. Another said, "Perfect for at-home walks, especially on rainy days!"